Annex
CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
STATEMENT
We recognise the need for an active business
response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Business participation in meeting
the challenges of the epidemic will benefit employees, consumers,
business partners and local communities and contribute to global
social and economic development. We support the Global Business
Council on HIV & AIDS and its efforts to encourage an effective
business response to the epidemic through a range of activities
including:
1. HIV/AIDS—Employees
Employers can provide leadership to all employees
by:
— clearly stating that HIV cannot be
passed on by any work-based activity where normal health and safety
procedures are followed while providing accurate information on
how the virus is transmitted;
— affirming that it is unacceptable
to test for HIV status as a pre-requisite for employment or continuing
employment;
— maintain confidentiality in relation
to affected individuals;
— treating discrimination against people
living with HIV/AIDS as a disciplinary matter.
2. HIV/AIDS—Business Partners and Customers
Companies can:
— take the initiative to draw attention
to the spread of HIV/AIDS;
— use their own systems of communication
to speak directly to customers about HIV/AIDS eg through:
(i) articles in company publications;
(ii) mass media and advertising campaigns;
(iii) developing health education programmes
and materials.
3. HIV/AIDS—Local Communities and Employees'
Families
Companies can:
— make their facilities available for
community education and outreach;
— provide support for local community-based
HIV/AIDS initiatives in partnership with public and non-profit
sector organisations;
— encourage employees and their families
to be actively involved in community-based programmes.
4. HIV/AIDS—Wider Society
The business community can help reduce the effects
of HIV on the wider society that supports and sustains business
through:
— adding its voice to the need for
sustained HIV/AIDS prevention, care and research programmes;
— actively encouraging a wider range
of business, large and small, to play a role in combating the
epidemic;
— contributing to national and international
public policy debates on HIV/AIDS including its social and economic
consequences;
— philanthropic support to groups engaged
in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP
Council Chair: MTV Networks International—Bristol
Myers Squibb—Casa Decor—Edelman Public Relations Worldwide—Glaxo
Wellcome—Godrej & Boyce—Industries Villares SA—Levi
Strauss—Merck—Polaroid—SSL International—Standard
Chartered Bank—Tata Iron & Steel—Telepar—The
Body Shop International.
| 
